The Hindu : New Delhi News : It's discoms' show of power

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 29, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi - New Delhi

It's discoms' show of power

Sujay Mehdudia

Consumers warned of severe penalty for over-drawing electricity

NEW DELHI: Even as the private power distribution companies have failed in their duty to provide efficient service and improved quality of power to a vast majority of consumers in Delhi, the latest assertion by the discoms warning consumers about imposition of severe penalties for over-drawing power than their sanctioned load is somewhat disturbing.

According to observers of the privatisation and reforms process in the power sector, at a time when the city is faced with a serious power crisis and the private discoms especially BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna had failed to provide their consumers with quality service and power, to issue warnings of imposing severe penalties at this juncture was like rubbing salt into their wounds. What is most surprising is the role of the Delhi Government that has remained silent in this whole affair.

There has hardly been any effort by the Sheila Dikshit Government to use its special powers to issues directions to the discoms or the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Authority (DERC) to set things right for the benefit of consumers. It is another matter that it used the same powers a few months back to bail out the discoms on the issue of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) issue that was taken by these private companies without the consent of the Government and in violation of various norms. The assertion by the CEO of BSES, Rakesh Aggarwal, that they would be forced to impose a 30 per cent penalty on consumers for over-drawing power is something that needs to be taken seriously.

According to observers, the performance of BSES has come under scrutiny and the levels of public dissatisfaction are high in the areas served by it. Experts are of the view that BSES first of all should set its house in order and then talk of targeting the consumers. "To term a majority of the consumers as thieves and charging them with over-drawing power is a very serious matter. The performance of BSES should be evaluated by an independent agency and the fleecing of consumers should also be exposed to bring out the ground realities of power privatisation,'' said the Delhi BJP president, Harsh Vardhan.

There have been a large number of instances where consumers wanting to get their load enhanced are made to run from pillar to post without any result.

"I have been seeking load enhancement for the last three months. I had deposited my application and was assured that everything would be put in a place within a fortnight. The summer has already gone but there is no word from the BSES. It is a very unfortunate situation even after privatisation of power,'' remarked a senior doctor living in New Rajinder Nagar.

According to power consumers, what is most surprising is the fact that even after three years of privatisation and the meter-changing regime, the private discoms continue to put the blame on the consumers.

The DERC has almost given a free hand to the private discoms and there seems hardly any redressal for the common man.

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